CASING RUNNING

Courtesy
Drilling Manual
• Running casing can be a hazardous operation for a number of reasons.
• First, there most likely will be workers present who are not part of the normal makeup of the rig crew.
• Second, it is an activity that is not part of the everyday drilling operations.
• Third, heavy equipment is added to the rig floor that is not normally located on the rig floor.
• Fourth, this equipment has to be rigged up.
• And fifth, there are simultaneous operations going on:
o picking up and
o running casing while other casing is being brought to the rig floor.
• Running the Casing in the wellbore is an important issue when drilling an oil and gas well.
• An oil and gas well is drilled in sections from the surface to the production zone.
• It is not possible to drill the well in one section due to the difference in formations properties.
• Each section of formation, after being drilled, has to be sealed off by running a steel pipe called casing .
• The annular space between the casing and the borehole is filled with cement .
 Casing Running Preparations
• Many points have to be performed accurately to make sure the success of running the casing.
• Missing some details can lead to many problems and affect the overall performance of the operations.
• Prior to running the casing the well has to be conditioned.
• The tight spots have to be eliminated by performing a short trip before pulling the drill string.
• The driller has to work on the intervals where he notices high torque and does not continue running to bottom
till getting stable torque on those intervals.
• In the case of highly deviated wells, where the severe dog legs become an obstacle to run the casing, a semi-
packed hole BHA has to be run to soften these intervals.
• Also, the drilling mud has to be conditioned by reducing the plastic viscosity and yield point because the mud in
this case is no longer used to carry cutting.
• The surge effect is reduced and the risk of losses is minimized by decreasing the yield point.
• The casing joints and accessories have to be prepared while drilling is carried on.
• The casing joints have to be measured and drifted.
• The threads have to be checked and cleaned.
• According to standards, for casing smaller than 8 5/8'' the mandrel length of the drift has to be 6'' and for casing
larger than 9 5/8'' the mandrel has to be 12’’.
• The Outer diameter OD and the length of the drift itself should be checked prior to the job.
• The crew which is going to prepare the casing should remove the protectors and carefully insert the drift from the box
without damaging the thread or seal area.
• They have to make sure to do not free-fall out of the pin end to avoid damaging the threads.
• Any pipe which fails to drift should be marked on the body and not used in the operation.
• The casing joints should be cleaned and this can be performed by blowing compressed air through the joints in order to
remove any debris.
• The threads have to be cleaned and free from dirt.
• They should be kept dry and protected with clean protectors.
• The threads can be cleaned using steam jet and followed by an air blast to dry them effectively.
• Diesel should not be used to clean the threads because it can attracts debris and encapsulated them between thread roots
which can make them difficult to be removed.
• The casing joints have to be measured twice to remove any doubts.
• The joints which are not used for any reason like fail to drift or damaged threads have to be laid out from the casing rack.
• After measuring and double checking the measures, the casing is numbered to prepare the casing tally which includes joint
number, buoyed string weight, metal displacement, the position of centralizers, crossovers and any other accessories, it has to
include also the cumulative length and the final depth of any joints when landing the casing shoe on bottom.
• The total number of joints should be noted including the pup joints and the damaged joints.
• In case of facing problems when running casing like impossibility of reaching the bottom, the crew has to be sure of the depth
of landing by counting the remain joints on surface.
Casing Tally
 Hazards
1. Being struck by the equipment that is being rigged up.
2. Possible dropped items from the derrick while rigging up stabbing basket or positioning it if the derrick has a
permanently installed basket.
3. Being struck by casing that is being brought to the rig floor or being picked up.
4. Falls while rigging up and locating the stabbing basket.
5. Falls while running casing (raised floor, stabbing basket, slips or trips).
6. Pinch points (casing tongs, spider, casing elevators, swinging casing).
• The best way to avoid these hazards is to be aware of them and take appropriate precautions when rigging up
and running casing.
• A Pre-Job Safety meeting should be held that includes everyone involved in running the casing. In addition the
crews need to perform actions.
 Inspect equipment
• a. Always check the condition of the equipment to be used before work begins and replace if necessary.
b. Make sure the casing equipment delivered to the rig meets the specifications required for the casing string to be run.
c. Inspect the:
• Casing tongs
• Pick up cable
• Casing elevators (all sets that are expected to be used)
• Crane and slings
• Tail rope
• Mud fill up line (ensure it is hooked up to proper supply system).
• Utilize proper rigging procedures to pick up the equipment.
• Take care when removing and returning the casing thread protectors to the catwalk area.
• Keep feet from below swinging casing as it is being picked up.
• Utilize 100% tie off when rigging up the stabbing board and working in the derrick.
• Rig floor workers must be alert at all times for casing being brought into the V-door and casing being picked up and
added to the string.
• Casing stabber must be alert to swinging blocks/elevators as casing is being picked up from V-door.
• Casing stabber must watch for pinch points when removing sling and latching elevators on casing.
• Casing stabber must stabilize top end of casing as floormen stab casing.
• Take care when filling casing not to overfill and get mud on rig floor.
• Casing rollers do not walk on casing or attempt to roll casing from on top. Walk beside the ends. Keep hands away
from pinch points.
• Wear eye protection to protect eyes from mud being added to the casing string.
• When the casing job is complete, pick up all tools and clean up the rig floor
 Casing Running Procedures Good Practice
• Casing is mandatory in the drilling operations as it has a lot of casing functions as to prevent cave-in of
unconsolidated formations, isolate problem zones and many more.
• Casing design guide that selection of casing depends on many factors.
• After cleaning and preparing the rig floor, the first joint with casing shoe made up on it is picked up.
• The casing joints have to be transferred carefully to catwalk.
• Installing the Klampon protector can be used to protect the pin end of the joint.
• The shoe track is composed of the casing shoe, two casing joints and float shoe.
• The shoe track components should be made up using pipe lock compound.
• The pipe lock has to be put on the pin part.
• The float collar pin is stabbed in the second joint carefully and made up using the chain tong, then the next join
pin is stub in the float collar and made up using the power tong.
• The pipe lock is used to avoid backing off the casing shoe and float collar while drilling them with the next BHA.
• The casing shoe and the float collar should be tested, the shoe track is filled with mud then lifted at least 30 ft
above the rotary table, then lowered again, the level into the shoe track should decrease and the floats should
not allow the back flow.
• In the case when the floats fail, make the circulating head and circulate to remove any debris which can affect
the floats, then re-test again.
• The next joints are doped with casing thread compound to all boxes and seal areas.
• The dope is applied when the joint is in the V door not when the joint is on the rotary.
• Extra joints should be on site, cleaned, calibrated and measured which can be used when damaging joints.
• Safety clamps or single joints elevator is used above the slips before removing the elevator to avoid losing the casing
into the well.
• They are used till getting the weight of 25000 lbs.
• For buttress couplings, the casing is made up to more or less than 3/8 inch from the base of the triangle.
• Make up several joints to triangle, then use that average torque to make up the remaining joints.
• The coupling can be warm up but should not get hot, if this is the case may be it indicates the over-torquing or galling.
• The connection should be made up with the high gear of the power tong, then low gear is engaged prior to shouldering.
• Fill each joint with mud and monitor the correct amount of mud returned to the mud pit while running in the hole to
record any losses or gain .
• Change to spider elevator before running in the open hole
• Wash down at least the last joint of casing to avoid plugging the casing shoe.
• When tagging the bottom of the hole, count the joints remain at the surface including the damaged ones and make
sure that this is the right depth of the bottom.
• If it is ok, space out the casing string to avoid getting the coupling into the last casing spool.
• Expect pup joints on rig site to use them when spacing out.
• Rig up and make up the cementing head, line up and then circulate at least 120 % of the casing string capacity and
prepare for the cementing job.
CASING RUNNING PROCEDURES
1. First Check The Casing And Cementing Check List
2. After open hole log, a tripping pipe to bottom is recommended to condition the hole and mud.’
• The Mud Engineer shall check and, if necessary, adjust the mud properties.
• Plastic viscosity, yield strength and weight shall be kept as low as possible.
3. There is a difference between the driller’s and logging depths, strapping in or out of the Drill String shall be considered.
4. Check the weather forecast to ensure conditions be such as to allow safe operations.
5. Replace the upper pipe rams with the correct size of rams for the casing to be run.
• A pressure test of the bonnet and rams seals shall be performed when the pipe rams are changed.
• Remember Blowout preventer may be required for any Well Control issue.
6. Retrieve the wear bushing.
7. Do not lay down the Bottom Hole Assembly BHA unless unavoidable.
• Before running 7ʺ casing, break-out BHA and 5ʺ Drill Pipe.
• After the Casing Cementing Job, while waiting on cement lay down the BHA and 5ʺ DP.
8. From the caliper log determine the correct volume of slurry, spacers.
• Centralization Pattern to be used.
9. Verify that the differential pressure between the slurry and mud does not exceed the Casing Collapse Rating.
10. Also make sure that the density of slurry and the planned top of cement do not cause losses of circulation and/or gas
migration while waiting on cement.
• The Company Drilling and Completion Supervisor, Company Drilling Engineer (if on site) and Cementing Operator shall
conduct individually, calculations for the cementing job prior to running the casing.
• The figures/calculations shall be compared in order to ascertain final cement, volumes, etc.
11. Calculate the Maximum Allowable Overpull while running casing same as for the Drill String.
12. Landing joints are to be inspected and selected to avoid interference with wellhead.
• The coupling must be minimum a 2m from casing hanging point.
13. Do not start running the casing without the Cementing Operator being on site.
• The operator will start the unit pumps and check for system malfunctions.
14. Check the length of elevator links several days in advance for fitness with casing running tools & equipment i.e.
spider, circulating/cementing heads, circulating casing packer.
15. Install Centralizers as per the Drilling Program its installation pattern when the casing is on the pipe rack, in order
to avoid time wasting during casing running
16. Check shoe and collar integrity.
17. Test the sealing adapter 30ʺ-20ʺ shoe for perfect fit.
18. Record initial pit levels to establish a reference volume in order to detect any abnormal condition while running
the casing.
19. Arrange an appropriate length of high pressure flexible hose for casing string circulating down and/or
reciprocating.
20. Centre the travelling block with the rotary table to facilitate casing running and hanging.
21. Check subs, crossovers, stage collar, ECIP for correct threads, dimensions, etc.
22. Visual inspect the casing internal surface on the pipe rack to ensure that all joints are free from foreign matter.
23. Before commencing of the casing running procedures & its job, the Toolpusher, Driller, Cementing Operator, Mud
Engineer and Mud Logging Operator shall be fully informed of the Casing Cementing Job Procedure and given the
following data:
• Total amount of lead and tail cement slurries.
• Volumes, density and composition of spacers.
• Calculated top of tail and lead slurries based on hole conditions.
• Desired density of lead and tail slurries.
• Required amount of mixing water for both slurries (fresh or sea water to be duly noted by all concerned).
• Total amount of cement to be used.
• Required volumes of additives for both slurries.
• Estimated setting time of the cement.
• Internal volume of casing from top to float collar and number of rig pump strokes to bump the plugs.
• Volume of casing from float collar to float shoe and number of rig pump strokes for over displacement only.
• Maximum allowable displacement rate compatible with the MAASP.
1.A circulation sub, fitting the casing thread, equipped with a WECO connection, shall be readily available on
rig floor at all times during casing running.

Spider

2.The most forgotten casing running procedures is to pick up the shoe joint and remove the blank thread protector
at V-door.
3.Lower the joint through the rotary and visually verify for back flow.
4.Fill the joint with mud, then pick up to check for flow through.
• The casing shoe and float collar should be checked.
• The main thing to be sure about is the type threads of these two parts of the casing string.
• If the thread is not like the one of the casing joints, cross over are expected to be used in the shoe track to
adapt the threads.
• The casing shoe normally has to be made up on the first joint and protected from debris which can affect the
float in it.
• The two joints which are chosen for the shoe track should be the tallest ones to gain few barrels just in case of
not getting the pressure bump when circulating the cement.
• Casing running equipment are also very important for the success of the job.
• They have to be on site on time, checked and prepared. The overall condition of the power tongs have to be
checked, in particular the dies.
• The tong specifically should have torque output tested up to the maximum anticipated for the job. The side
door and spider elevators have to get the right lifting capacity.
 casing running float equipment
• The casing shoe and float collar should be checked.
• The main thing to be sure about is the type threads of these two parts
of the casing string.
• If the thread is not like the one of the casing joints, cross over are
expected to be used in the shoe track to adapt the threads.
• The casing shoe normally has to be made up on the first joint and
protected from debris which can affect the float in it.
• The two joints which are chosen for the shoe track should be the tallest
ones to gain few barrels just in case of not getting the pressure bump
when circulating the cement.
• Casing running equipment are also very important for the success of
the job.
• They have to be on site on time, checked and prepared. The overall
condition of the power tongs have to be checked, in particular the dies.
• The tong specifically should have torque output tested up to the
maximum anticipated for the job. The side door and spider elevators
have to get the right lifting capacity.

3. Generally a float collar shall be run two joints above the shoe in 13 3/8ʺ and 9 5/8ʺ casing and three joints above a 7ʺ shoe,
30ʺ conductor casing pipe, after drilling of 36ʺ hole, and 20ʺ surface casing shall be cemented using a Drill Pipe inner string
with a sealing sleeve adapter.
4. Use a thread lock compound on all the connections on and below the float collar (or landing collar).
5. Pick up the collar joint and remove the blank thread protector at the V-door.
• Make up the joint and fill with mud. Pick up and check the shoe and collar for flow through.
6. After casing running 6 joints, make up the circulating head and test the float equipment pumping at the maximum
displacement rate.
• Record pressure losses due to collar and shoe at various flow rates.
Casing running tool : circulating head
8. When running Buttress casing, make up the first 10 joint connections to the reference triangle (do not
consider the joints between shoe and collar since the torque transmission factor of thread lock compound is
not the same value as casing dope).
• Record the average torque required for these first joints and use it for the remaining part of the string.
• The torque value shall then be checked every 10-20 joints and adjusted, if necessary.
9. When a casing running procedures for other threads, the make up torque should be in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specifications.
10. Rotary slips with safety clamp and side door elevators may be used up to a weight equal to 60% of the rating
for the elevators.
• Beyond this weight, use slip power elevator and spider.
Note: Slip power elevator and spider shall always be used when running casing in open hole
 Casing running safety clamp tool Casing running tool : rotary slips

Casing running equipment : Side Door Elevator Casing running equipment : Spider Elevator
11. Stop the block before setting the spider and then slowly slack off pipe weight to minimize pipe slippage,
notching or crushing.
12. The maximum casing running procedures speed should be calculated for the well specific mud properties and
formation integrity. As a rule of thumb, running speed should never exceed 0.6m/sec. (20sec/joint) inside casing
and 0.3m/sec. (40sec/joint) in open hole.
Note : For 7ʺ casing the running speed shall not exceed 0.2m/sec. (1 joint every minute).
13. Inform the Driller that speed variation is a cause of surge and possible mud loss, so it is particularly important to
run the casing in as smooth a manner as possible.
14. Fill up the casing after every joint and completely every 10 joints. If running a casing liner (One of Types Of
Casing), fill up the running string at each stand.
15. While running the casing compare the actual string weight and pit level, with theoretical values previously
plotted, in order to detect any possible abnormal condition.
16. Intermediate circulation is generally not necessary, however it may be advisable under the following
circumstances:
• When the weight indicator shows excessive dragging or a tendency to stick.
• When an excessive amount of mud cake, cuttings or shale is expected.
• When it is anticipated that returns will be lost if excessively high pump pressure is required to break
circulation at bottom.
• At the previous casing shoe. Circulation should start at a very low pump rate increasing gradually to the
maximum displacement rate. Record the circulating pressures at the various rates.
17. When installing a production casing string it is recommended to place a short joint near the pay zone to aid in
checking depths with casing collar locator (CCL) during later logging operations.
18. During casing running, plot the casing weight and pit levels on the graph (described earlier) and compare them
with the theoretical values previously plotted to detect any possible abnormal condition.
19. At the previous casing shoe depth fill up the string completely and circulate the volume inside the casing.
Check levels and start circulation at a very low pump rate increasing gradually up to the maximum allowable
displacement rate. Record the circulating pressures at the various flow rates.
20. Space out the casing string in order to have the cementing head at a convenient height. On the other hand,
ensure that the last casing collar is not across the hanging point.
21. With the casing at TD circulate the total hole volume, following the procedure in step 19.
• During circulation, check the levels and any bottom cushion. At the end of circulation, record the pressure
with the estimated displacement rate.
• During the final circulation and the following cementing job phases, hang the casing on the travelling block
and do not leave it on the rotary table clamp.
• Note : In particular instances the ‘Post Plug’ technique should be used in order to reciprocate the casing string.
 Casing Operations With A Top Drive
• With the introduction of 500 tons bails and adequately rated swivel, the Top Drive is rated at 500 tons for casing
operations.
o Longer bails (132” or 144”) must be used to allow clearance for the casing elevator under the torque wrench
in the pipe handler.
• Also clearance for the cementing head must be taken into consideration when determining casing bails length.
o By attaching a short piece of hose to the saver sub in the pipe handler, the casing can be filled while
lowering by using the remotely controlled kelly cock to start and stop the calculated filling flow.
o If desired, casing can be run conventionally using the block and hook by swinging the Top Drive aside.
o Very long bails must be used to prevent the block from contacting the Top Drive dolly.
• It is recommended to prepare landing/circulating heads (4 1/2ʺ If Box connections) connected directly to top
drive for 13 3/8ʺ, 9 5/8ʺ and 7ʺ casing, in order to facilitate circulating down, casing reciprocation, casing retrieve
with circulation, etc.
• Circulating Casing Packers compatible with top drive systems are available in the market.
 Overcome Casing Flotation Limitations To Access the Full Wellbore

• Running casing to depth in long lateral sections is challenging, often costing operators a significant portion
of pay zone at the toe of the well. For oil and gas operators today, remaining competitive means drilling
longer laterals with less downtime, while creating the best possible balance of cost efficiencies.
• Casing flotation devices can help operators achieve these goals as they are engineered to reduce costs
and increase efficiencies by ensuring casing reaches the bottom.
• Running casing to depth in long lateral sections is complex due to excessive drag forces.
• While conventional casing flotation can reduce drag by creating an air chamber above the float collar that
reduces sliding friction by approximately 50 percent, they shatter in large pieces.
• This creates debris which results in losing a significant portion of pay zone at the toe of the well.
• However, by utilizing casing flotation device, eliminated the need for a debris trap and shortened the
shoe track of the well.
THANK YOU